Al Quds under total lockdown

Islam’s Third Holiest Site, Masjid al Aqsa, is under complete lockdown this morning after an arch Zionist and avowed advocate of the destruction of the mosque was shot allegedly by a Palestinian resident of al Quds yesterday.

Israeli Channel 10 television reported that the rabbi, a right-wing zealot, was shot at from close range in his upper body outside the Menachem Begin Heritage Center after attending ‘Israel Returns to the Temple Mount’ conference.

The broadcast said that a motorcyclist fired at Glick, 50, at point blank, and quoted medical sources as saying that he was hit with three bullets and his condition was serious.

In response, Israeli special police forces early this morning killed Mutaz Hijazi, a liberated Palestinian prisoner, at his home in Silwan, south of the Aqsa Mosque alleging that he was the perpetrator of the shooting.

Sources quoted by the Palestine Information Centre(PIC) said that Israeli special forces and disguised security elements raided the Thawri neighborhood in Silwan at dawn and broke into Hijazi’s home, killing him on the roof of his house at point blank range.

Eyewitnesses reported that Hijazi was fatally shot and succumbed to his wounds a short while later. Some reports say Hijazi was even left to bleed to death. Three other inhabitants in the suburb were also injured in the incident.

Hijazi served 11 and half years in Israeli jails including ten years in solitary confinement. He was arrested in 2000 and jailed for six years for joining intifada activities. He received four additional years sentence in 2004 after he assaulted one of his guards. He was released in June 2012.

Speaking to Cii Radio from Al Quds this morning, tour guide Abeer Zayyad said the situation in the Holy City was deteriorating by the minute.

“Masjid al Aqsa is closed. No one is allowed to enter Masjid al Aqsa. Even the workers at the Masjid have been refused entry. The Palestinian guards who were on night duty have barricaded themselves inside the Masjid to protect it. Israeli police are allowing no food in to reach them. “

Zayyad reported that there was also a general state of tension across the wider Al Quds, where Palestinians were being shot, and the family of the martyr had been imprisoned. Even approaching the entrance of the Old City today, she said, was quite a mission.

Fajr Salaah was this morning performed only by a handful of Musallees and the Muezzin of the Masjid was not even allowed to enter the compound.

Zayyad said the Masjid had been locked down “indefinately” and was unsure as to how Jummuah Salaah would proceed tomorrow.

“We fear that this incident would be used as the precursor for the division of Masjid al Aqsa,” she said.

According to Ma’an, Palestinian minister of endowment Sheikh Yusuf Deis said that this was the first time the mosque had been completely sealed off since 1967.

The minister said it was a “conspiracy” aimed at dividing the mosque, and criticized the move as violating the rights of Muslim worshipers.

Some 500 students, who study in religious schools inside the compound, were also denied entry.

“It is unacceptable that the Al-Aqsa Mosque pays a toll for the events in Jerusalem. The mosque is a place for prayer and worship and all Muslims have the right to access it,” the director of the Masjid said.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli police, Luba al-Samri, said that the decision was taken after evaluating the security situation following the assassination attempt on Yehuda Glick.

Early this morning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered that the highest priority should be given to capture those responsible for shooting Glick, and that security personnel should be significantly increased in Jerusalem.

Zionist Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi) said following the shooting, “I am praying for the full recovery of Yehuda Glick. The bullets fired at him tonight were directed at all the Jews that want to exercise their Jewish and moral right to visit the most holy place to the Jewish people and to pray at the Temple Mount.”

“I call on the prime minister to immediately allow every Jew to freely go to the Temple Mount, and to act with an iron fist against the criminals responsible for this deed,” he charged.

Occupied Al Quds is on knife’s-edge today after an alleged assassination attempt on Rabbi Yehuda Glick, a right-wing zealot who had led a high-profile Zionist campaign calling for the desecration of Masjid al Aqsa and establishment of a Jewish Temple in its place.

While mainstream media label him an activist, and Israeli politicians spew out vitriol against Palestinians over his shooting, here are 9 important things you need to know about the man labelled the #1 enemy of Masjid al Aqsa

1. He is a senior member of a number of organisations that have called for the destruction of Masjid al Aqsa

Glick previously worked as the executive director of the Temple Institute, an organization that prepares vessels and garments for a future Jewish temple, before joining the Temple Mount Faithful.

The Temple Mount Faithful lists as among its long term objectives: “Liberating the Temple Mount from Arab (Islamic) occupation”. It claims that the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque were placed on this Jewish or biblical holy site as a specific sign of Islamic conquest and domination. “The Temple Mount can never be consecrated to the Name of G‑d without removing these pagan shrines. It has been suggested that they be removed, transferred to, and rebuilt at Mecca.”

Glick is also director of an initiative founded by the Israel Independence Fund called LIBAH – The Initiative for Jewish Freedom on the Temple Mount.

2. The extremist organisations that Glick belongs to have developed detailed plans for the construction of the ‘Third Temple’ in place of Al Aqsa

The Temple Mount Faithful foresees “consecrating the Temple Mount to the Name of G‑d so that it can become the moral and spiritual center of Israel, of the Jewish people and of the entire world according to the words of all the Hebrew prophets.”

It advocates the rebuilding of the “Third Temple in accordance with the words of all the Hebrew prophet”.

At the Temple Institute, according to its website, a team of rabbis, scholars, scientists and other experts in various fields are presently occupied with the study of various Temple-related subjects. The results of these studies are published periodically by the Temple Institute.

The conclusions of this research form the basis for the creation of the sacred vessels and priestly garments that are fashioned by the Institute’s Restoration Department, comprised of experts representing a wide range of fields and professions: gold and silversmiths, weavers, gemologists, musicologists, carpenters, painters, graphic artists, architects and more.

These craftsmen prepare their work based on the findings and conclusions presented to them by the scholars of the Research Department. Once the plans for the vessel or item have been completed, the craftsman or artist sets about the execution of the project accordingly, with his own emphasis on the artistic aspects.

In this manner, over sixty sacred Temple vessels have already been restored, including some of the most difficult and complicated projects, such as the Menorah and the precious stones of the High Priest’s breastplate. The stones of the breastplate – recently created – were investigated with the help of professional gemologists, geologists and other experts. The wide range of material necessitated the examination of over 30 differing viewpoints for establishing the criteria for identifying the stones.

Another example of research currently underway involves the topography and makeup of the Temple Mount and the structure of the Holy Temple, as well as a working architectural plan for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah, according to modern building standards and with the best materials and technology available.

3. He is an illegal settler of American origin

Yehuda Glick was born on 20 November 1965 in the United States to American parents, Brenda and Shimon Glick; the family immigrated to Israel when he was a child. Glick is a resident of the illegal West Bank Jewish settlement of Othniel, near Hebron.

4. He has led repeated desecrations of Masjid al Aqsa

For the past few years, on a near daily basis, Zionist zealots – often led by Glick – have embarked on ‘pilgrimages’ to Masjid al Aqsa, under the armed escort of Israeli security personnel. Actions of settlers on these desecrations have been deemed highly provocative as they often include religious rituals and recently, even the consumption of wine. On one occassion, settlers accompanying Glick even attempted to climb the Dome of the Rock Masjid at al Aqsa and affix an Israeli flag there. The Temple Institute and other such organisations offer detailed guidelines for Zionists seeking to desecrate al Aqsa.

Mr. Glick has described himself in interviews as a licensed tour guide who makes a living by taking groups on tours of Temple Mount.

5. Part of his right wing mission is to enact the division of Masjid al Aqsa, as a precursor to the establishment of the ‘Temple’

Personally, I believe that the Temple Mount represents a place that has potential for being an international center for religious tolerance. Unfortunately, it has now been taken over by a religion that believes in promoting hate and inciting terror.

Recently, I became the director of an initiative founded by the Israel Independence Fund called LIBAH – The Initiative for Jewish Freedom on the Temple Mount. This was motivated by the denial of Jewish civil rights at Judaism’s most holy site. While Israel’s Supreme Court has recognized the right of Jewish worship on the Temple Mount, it has left the implementation of those basic civil and religious rights to police discretion. This in turn has led to consistent civil rights violations in the name of short-sighted self-serving expediencies. Current restrictions are humiliating, demeaning and carry all the hateful aspects of “dhimmi-tude” and second-class citizenry. How can this inhumane treatment to Jews be possible in sovereign Israeli territory?

The restriction of Jewish presence as a way of keeping “peace” actually undercuts the prospects for peaceful co-existence in Israel and in the region as a whole. How can we expect to have any kind of peaceful co-existence if there is not the mutual respect that would allow all peoples, and especially Muslims and Jews, to share space that is of vital import and concern to each? Real, meaningful, durable peace begins on the Temple Mount.

The concept of dividing Masjid al Aqsa as a prayer place between Muslims and Jews is being touted ever more often by Zionists as a first step towards securing full sovereignity over the entire Masjid compound. A similar scheme has proven successful is robbing the Ummah of Masjid Ibrahimi in Hebron(Al Khalil).

6. Just prior to his alleged shooting, he had addressed a right wing gathering on constructing the Temple at Masjid al Aqsa

According to media reports, Glick had just emerged from delivering a speech at a conference at the Begin Center, entitled “Israel returns to the Temple Mount,” when he was shot.

Footage from Wednesday night’s convention broadcast on Israeli television showed Mr. Glick addressing the audience and warning that those who “stand up” for more Jewish rights on Temple Mount are likely to be denounced by opponents as “right-wing extremists,” “dangerous” and “delusional.” Peeking at his cellphone while on the podium Mr. Glick joked that he kept it on just in case permission came through to rebuild the Jewish temple at the ancient site, in which case, he said, he would have to leave.

7. He is aware that his actions are deemed highly provocative by Muslims

The New York Times today labelled Glick an “Israeli-American agigtator”.

Glick predicted last week that the situation at Masjid al Aqsa would change only after an act of violence against Jews.

“When will the change take place?” he told Haaretz. “As soon as the Arabs harm someone on the Temple Mount, the prime minister will wake up and it will be too late.”

“Violence is escalating every day, and the police are simply helpless,” Glick said last week. “Police impotence leads to violence.”

8. He is a close confidant of Moshe Feiglin

While Glick provides the ‘religious’ authority, among his most prominent supporters in the political establishment is Moshe Feiglin, deputy speaker of the Knesset and a member of the Israel’s ruling Likud party.

Feiglin too is a regular in desecrating Masjid al Aqsa and is known, even by Israeli establishment standards, for his highly controversial positions.

On Masjid al Aqsa, his position is: “We have to internalize that this is our Land – exclusively…. Most important: We must expel the Moslem wakf from the Temple Mount and restore exclusive Israeli sovereignty over this most holy site.”

Feiglin has also allegedly called for concentration camps in Gaza, “the conquest of the entire Gaza Strip, and annihilation of all fighting forces and their supporters’ and also for shipping the people living in Gaza across the world”.

9. He has been full of praise for Harun Yahya(Adnan Oktar)

In 2009, Glick was hosted by Harun Yahya, the famous Turkish author of a number of books and documentaries on the subject of evolution, on a live TV show that was broadcast across Turkey. In the ensuing interview, Glick spoke admiringly of the positions adopted by Yahya on Masjidul Aqsa, and his renouncement of violent tactics allegedly used by the Muslim defenders of the mosque.

“I was very happy to hear that Mr. Oktar condemned those who are using the Mosque, Al-Aqsa Mosque for violence. Because this Temple Mount should be a place for all those who is faithful in God, should pray to God and worship God on the Temple Mount. And this is what our organization is trying to do; to promote freedom of spiritual religious prayer and religious practice on the Temple Mount,” Glick said.

The sentiments of Yahya throughout were highly welcoming of Glick and approving of his views. Yahya in fact went as far as speaking of an arrangement that could be interpreted as calling for the division of Masjid al Aqsa in the future.

There will be a section for Muslims, and another section for Jews and also one for Christians”,”he said.